Ridgeway Plaza: A Community Destination That Works for Everyone

I like what Ridgeway Plaza brings to Mississauga: a place where people come together, spend time with friends and discover businesses that reflect the diversity of our city. Behind many of those businesses are families who have invested their savings, taken risks and worked hard to build something. They deserve our respect and a fair opportunity to succeed.

Nearby residents also deserve peace, safe streets and reasonable access to their neighbourhoods. Noise, dangerous driving and disruptive gatherings are legitimate concerns. Supporting the plaza means taking those concerns seriously and finding ways for businesses, visitors and neighbours to coexist.

Several measures have already been introduced. These include the Nuisance Gathering By-law and January 2026 zoning amendments that limit restaurant floor space, regulate certain retail food uses and address patios and parking in the Ridgeway Special Area. Temporary court orders also applied to specified gatherings in August 2025. Those orders were time-limited, and the City subsequently corrected parts of its original description of the court’s decision. ^{[1] [2]}

In April 2026, the City announced a mediated framework under which the plaza condominium corporations would privately fund cameras, speed bumps, access gates, signage and additional security staffing. The City committed to enhanced parking enforcement and quarterly meetings to assess progress. These commitments give us something concrete to evaluate. ^[3]

Police enforcement deserves recognition as well. INsauga reported that officers made 26 enforcement visits to Ridgeway Plaza and the nearby Auto Spa area during a May-to-August Project ERASE campaign. That figure describes enforcement visits, not the number of tickets. I support the work being done to address street racing and dangerous driving. ^[4]

Before introducing further restrictions, I want to understand what effect the existing measures are having. Are dangerous-driving incidents declining? Are noise complaints being resolved? Are access and parking improving? Better, consistent enforcement may be part of the answer. We should assess the evidence and give implemented measures a reasonable opportunity to work, while continuing to respond to immediate safety concerns.

I would also welcome a serious discussion about additional parking that incorporates a thoughtfully designed community seating area. It could help make the plaza a more comfortable place to meet and spend time. That discussion must consider traffic circulation, accessibility, operating hours and how sound would travel toward nearby homes.

Any proposal should begin with open communication and town halls involving residents, businesses and property owners. I would encourage private enterprise and private investment to bring forward a viable proposal. I do not support asking the City to pay for that parking development.

My approach is to preserve what people value about Ridgeway Plaza while addressing the problems with care, evidence and cooperation.